Yielding self-arighting lamp or signal device



F. W. GRISWOLD YIELDING SELF ARIGHTING LAMP 0R SIGNAL DEVICE original Filed March 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ffm/M' W Gli/5 woLD.

' 5) /1//5 /7 Tron/VEY. /M WMM May 27, 1930.

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May 27, 1930. i F. w,j GR|swo| D I 1,760,270

YIELDING SELF ARIGHTING LAMP/OR SIGNAL DEVICE original Filed March 3, 1924 3 sheets-Sheet 2 a 4 INvENTo/.

May 27, 1930. v F. w. GRlswoLD 1,760,270

YIELDNG SELF ARIGHTING LAMP OR SIGNAL DEVICE Original Filed March 5, 1924 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 27, 1930 narran stares y raiser' orifice FRANK W. GRISWGLD, F MNNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

YIELDING- SELF-ARIGHTING LABEP OR SIGNAL DEVICE Application led March 3, 192%, Serial No. 95,545. Renewedv April 9, 19,30.

This invention relates to a semaphore or signal post or lamp post, and while the invention is applicable to any such post or semaphore device the same is more particularly designed as a traffic signal post. With the large volume of automobile trafic in cities it is necessary to have some trac'regulator at the street intersections. As there are car tracks at a great many of such intersections it l0 is desirable to have a signal device whichcan be disposed between the double car tracks on the street. It is also desirable to have a signal device which is capable of yielding so that if the same is struck by a vehicle the post and vehicle will not be greatly damaged. It is also necessary that suchasemaphore be constructed so that the signals thereon can be clearly read either day or night and so that said signals will not be unduly affected by t-he 2'@ rays of the sun in the daytime.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a signal post so mounted that if the same is struck and knocked to one side it will resume its vertical position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stop means, or centering means for insuring that the post will resume a true vertical position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a signal device having a hollow standard with opaque means therein dividing the same into chambers so that the rays of the sun or otler light cannot shine through said standhave a signal device having a hollow standard, the sides of said standard having panels therein with characters cut therefrom, together with 'panels of material which is permeable to light and the outer one of which has a ground glass surface.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a signal device comprising a hollow standard divided into aplurality of chambers with light producing means therein, said standar-l having an opening therethrough from top to bottom for the circulation of air.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a signal device having a standard It is still another object of the invention to l with four sides arranged at right angles to each other, which sides are provided with traffic directing characters and portions. It is, furthermore, an object of thepresent invention to provide such a si gnal device having a vertical standard with a substantial spherical ball at its base yieldingly supthe surface of the ground.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully'.

set forth in the following description made in `connection with the accompanying dra like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the difiere which,

Fig. l is, for the most par tion through the lower porti device;

wings in vwhich nt vie-ws and in t, a vertical secon of the signal Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion ofthe signal device ywith the rlower part thereof in vertical sect-ion, rthe signal device being viewed from one of the corners thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken-on the' line S-S'Of Fig. 2, as indicated bythe arrows; i

Fig. i is a horizontal section taken'on the line 1 -4: of Fig. 1, as indicate-d byV the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken'on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a lower plate used;

Fig. '.7 is a view in side elevation of an upper plate used;

Fig. 8 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of Fifr. 3, as

indicated by the arrows, the same being shown on an enlarged scale r Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows,

Figs. 9 and 10 being shown scale;

Fig. 1l is a to plan view zontal section, o Fig. 2;

on an enlarged partly in hori- Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a partial vertical section similar to Fig. 1- shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, the signal device comprises a standard 1 which is securedV at their lower portions projecting through the top flange 2u of the ball 2 and firmly secured therein by nuts on said studs. A cap 4: having a pyramidal top surface surmounts the tops of the corner posts 3 and is secured by cap bolts passing through the holes la into the topone of a series of plates 5 which are secured to and between said corner posts. The cap ll,v as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is of hollow construction and has inwardly extending ribs 4b at each corner formed with right angular sides at their inner ends. A pair of panels 6 are disposed against and extended between said sides at the inner ends of said ribs, said pane-ls being secured to said ribs by suitable small bolts or rivets passing through holes 6a in 'said panels. It will be noted that the cap 4 has openings an at each side thereof, the panels 6v being alined .with and extending somewhat above vsai-d openings. The inner sides of the posts 3 have square or rectangular portions 3b with sides at rightangles to each other forming a square corner and theplates 5 are of square formationv with their corners recessed to fit over the inner corners of the post 3, said plates 5 having circular openings extending centrally therethrough. Said plates 5 are secured to the corner posts 3 by the bolts or rivets 7 extending radially through the posts 3 and said plates, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. vDisposed above and beneath the two lower plates 5 are semi-circular plates 8, said latter plates comprising somewhat more than a half circle and, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, these plates are reversely and oppositely ar- -ranged above and below said plates 5 so that a zigzag passage is formed through .the plates 5. Vertical diagonally disposed plates 9 exl tend betweenthe plates 5 and divide the y to said post by small plates 10 also bent substantially at 45 degrees to fit against the adjacent sides of the corner posts 3, which plates 10 are bolted or riveted to the Plates 9. Se-

lamps 13. A lamp socket 12:L is also disv posed above the upper plates 11 carrying a lamp 13a disposed centrally of the cap 1. an angle plate 14 is securedvto one of the side panels of the standard below the lower plate- 5 and carries a lamp socket 12b having therevin a lamp 13b Secured against the outer sides of the v square portion 3b of the post .3 are panels 16, 17 and V18. The innerl panel 16 is of colored transparent material, preferably red or green, the same being indicated as red in Fig. 10. The intermediate panel 17 is of translucent material and preferably provided with a ground glass surface. The outer panel 18 is opaque and, as shown in Fig. 2, two of the upper panels 18 have cut therein the characters G O forming the word Go, while the two alternate panels have the characters cut therefrom forming the word Stop. The panels 16 and 17 above and below the intermediate plate 5 are Vthe same, but the outer panels 18a below the intermediate plate 5 have, in addition to the words Go and Stop already described, small apertures 18b cut therethrough, which apertures aline with the lamp 13b. postis provided with other outer panels 13C. These panels, inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated, Vhave cut therefrom the characters formingthe words Noleft turn. The inner panels 17 preferably extend throughout the length of the standard. The

panels 16, however, are of different colors any convenient and suitable manner, but in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the same are shown as Ycarried by a cylindrical shell 2O preferably of metal and set into a concrete mounting 21 surrounding the same, into which mounting angle plates 22 riveted to the outside of the shell adjacent its top preferably project. lt will be noted that the top of the concrete mounting 21 is flush with the top of the street pavement 23. Secured to the inner side of the shell 2O adjacent the topthereof and as illustrated, in line with the angle plates 22 and by the same rivets holding said plates are a series of circumferentially spaced angle brackets 24C. The inwardly projecting flanges 24a of said Below the upper'panels 18 the lbeing curved andhaving convex surfaces,

said ribs also having flat top surfaces outwardly of said curved surfaces. The ball 2 is provided with a grooveV 2b (see Fig. 13), the outersurface of which is concave in cross section fitting and conforming to the convex surface of the ribs h. The gro-ove 2b forms a shoulder 2c on the ball 2, said shoulder normally engaging the inner or upper portion of the ribs 25". lvhile the groove2b could be cut in the ball 2 and extend therearound, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the ball is formed of somewhat reduced diameter at its lower portion, which reduced portion merges into the lower edge of the groove 2b. rllhe ribs 25b are provided at their top surface with tapped holes, and a cover plate 26 having a central opening surrounding ball 2 and sloping outwardly and downwardly from said Opening, is secured to said ribs by cap screws 27 disposed in radial slots in said cover plate and screwed into said tapped holes. The cover plate 26 is provided with a yielding gasket 28 secured adjacent the central opening therein and projecting inwardly and contacting with the sides of the ball 2. Headed and threaded screws 19 project into the outer sides of the members 25 and are provided with nuts 19a which engage the outer side of the member 25 and the heads of said screws engage the inner side of the shell 2O and abut thereagainst preventing outward movement of the members 25. The lower portion of the ball 2 has an inwardly projecting sleeve 2d centrally disposed therein, the opening through which flares at its outer end to form curved surfaces merging with the outer surface of the ball 2. A. rope clamp formed by spaced plates 29 connected by headed and nutted bolts 30 is disposed at the top of the sleeve 2d and clamped to one end of a hollow flexible cable 31 preferably of wire rope, which cable extends Y downwardly through the opening in sleeve 2d some distarce into the shell 2O where its lower end is f upper ends in appropriate relation to the lamps 13, 122L and 13b. Said conductors pass out at the lower end of the cable 31 and into a conduit 35 projecting from and through the side of shell 20, said conductors leading to some suitable source of electrical energy.

A plate 36 (see Figs. 1 and 7 of rectangular form, has a substantially centrally disposed hook 36a at its upper side engaged with the yoke 33a. The plate `36 is provided with a plurality of slots 36b arranged in the form of a square about its sides, as shown in Fig. 5 through which project upwardly."

the eyelets or loops 37a formed on'the upper ends of a series of springs 37. Rods 38 and 39 extend throughthe eyelets or loops 37a and are held from movement by theV cotter pins 39a secured therein. A lower plate 4()` see Figs. 1 and 6) also of substantially rectangular form, is spaced below plate y36 and arranged with similar slots 40 through which pass loops formed on the lower ends of the springs 37, said loops being held in place by rods 41 and rods therebetween similar to the rods 39, but not shown, which rods are also held in place by suitable cotter pins. Plate 40 has a downwardly extending yoke 40b thereon which is engaged with a hook 42 projecting upwardly from a transverse angle bar 43 kextending across the shell 20 and having its flanges contacting and riveted to the sides of said shell.

The cable 31 intermediate the ball 2 and the clamp 32 and adjacent said ball 'passes through a central aperture in a plate 44,

which is provided with a series of circum- I ferentially arranged headed and nutted bolts 45 passing through and securing to said plate, loops or eyelets formed at the inner ends of a series of tensile springs 46, Said springs also have loops or eyelets formed at the outerends which are engaged over ho-olrs 47 secured in the sides ofv the shell 20 and projecting radially inward.

In operation, the signal lamp post will be mounted in a desired location, as shown and described. rlhe signal illustrated is designed to direct the trame at a street intersection. A

chamber below said middle plate. d ust be-A fore the lights change inthe two chambers the bottom light 13b is lighted to illuminate the apertures 18b which indicates that the signal and trafiicv are about to change. The top lamp 13a, preferably, is constantly lighted so that the apertures 4c in the cap 4 are continuously illuminated. With a signal of the type described and such .as shown in applicants prior Patent 1,461,116, granted July 10, 1923, it was found in practice that the rays i from thel sun would shine through the standard and interfere with the proper reading of the signals. The Vdiagonal partition 9 is therefore provided in'applicants devicev so that the sun cannot shine through thesides of the device and illuminate the opposite sides and thus improperly illuminate the signal letters thereon.. It was also found that when the sun shone against the letters they would reflect light and be improperly illuminated -same to cause the letters to appear as 1f illuminated by the interior lamps 13. When thel lamps 13 are lighted the colored panel 16 readily shows through the panel 17 so that the proper colored illumination is given. The characters in the outer panels are highly illuminated by the interior lamps 13, 13a and 13b and stand out emphatically so that the same can be seen at a great distance. The illumination is inno way interfered withfby the interposition of the intermediate panels 17. Itis desirable to have a current of air passing through the standard to exert a cooling effect thereon and counteract the heat of the lamps 13, 13a and 13". 1t will be seen that the air can pass into the standard through the cable opening in sleeve 2d of ball 2 and can pass around the plates 3 up to and out through the openings 4c in cap 4.

Itis very desirable to have the signal standard yieldingly supported and the standard herein disclosed can be struck or pushed down standard 1 ina true vertical position. The

shoulder 2c therefore forms a centering stop and the groove 2b, together with the springs 37 and 46, forma centering means. It was found in practice with applicants device having the construction as shown in his prior patent above cited that when the standard had been pushed down it would not always come back to a true vertical. This difficulty has been overcome by the present structure. The convex surface of the ribs 25b also insures a small contacting surface with the ball when the same is moved from its central position. The rounded surface of the ball adjacent the cable 31 prevents abrasionV of the cable. The cover 26 effectively prevents dirt entering the shell 20 at the sides thereof or at its central portion. It will be seen that the members 25 and the cover 26 will be adjusted as desired to center and properly position the ball 2.

Thescrews 19 with the nuts thereon may be n vmanipulated to center ball 2 and when adstanding at a street intersection -or in the middle of the street is very apt to be struck by vehicles, if all the street lights are extinguished and the signal is dark. With the present signal such a collision in the darkness will not cause any appreciable damage.

F rom the above description itis seen that applicant has provided a simple and improved signal device. The parts thereof are simply and inexpensively constructed and yet are very durable and function to attain improved results.

It will, of course, be understood, that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing. from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a jdevice capable of carrying out the objects above set forth,fsuch as shown and described and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp or signal device having in combination, a standard, a member secured to the bottom of said standard having asubstantially semi-spherical underside, a plurality of circumferentially spaced supports for said member having convexly curved supporting surfaces with which said member constantly engages and over which it slides, said member having a shoulder formed in its underside shaped to lit said convex surfaces and rest in engagement therewith to form a stop whensaid standard is in vertical position, and resilient means holding` said member in position with said standard vertical. 2. A lamp or signal device ycomprising a standard, a substantially spherical ball at the bottom thereof, spaced radially disposed supports for said ball having convex supporting surfaces, said ball having an annular groove cut therein concave in radial cross section and formed on the same curvature as said convex surfaces, said groove fitting said convex surfaces and forming a shoulder with the upper portion of the ball which contacts said convex surface, said shoulder constituting a stop for said ball when said standard is in'vertical position, and means tending to move said standard to vertical position whereby said groove will snap into position in contact with standard having a partly spherical ball at its lower end, supporting meansy for said ball,

said ball having an aperture extending cen-A trally therein at its bottom, a flexible cable disposed Vin said aperture and secured in said ball, a member through which said cablev passes below and adjacent said ball, a' plurality of radially disposed and substantially horizontal springs secured to said member` and xedly secured at their outer ends, and resilient means normally under tension to pull downwardly on said cable. j

6. A lamp or signal device comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be set in the ground, a plurality of circumferentially spaced brackets secured to the inner wall of said casing, said brackets having inwardly projecting ribsfthereoniprovided with convex surfaces, a standard carrying a member at its'lower end having a spherical surface supported on said ribs, and means in said casing holding said member in contactwith said ribs. Y

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, said i ribs being .adjustable inwardly and having thrust means at their outer sides abutting the inner wall' ofsaid casing.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6, a cover for said casing surrounding and en; gaging said member andsecured to said ribs, said cover having means for radial adjust ment.

9. A lamp or signal device comprising av hollow standard having'four sides, a parti tion extending diagonally of said standard' forming two chambers therein, a sourcev of light in each of said chambers, panelspermeable to light in the sides of lsaid standard, one of which has a ,ground glass' surface and one of which is colored, and an opaque plate at the outer side of said panels having char; acters cut therefrom.

10; A lamp or signal device vcomprisingva'` upper and lower sections, plates at the four sides of each chamber, similar traffic directing words cut from Athe oppositely disposed plates, the words on adjacent plates being different and backed by differently colored transparent material,` and an illuminating' means in each of said chamber sections.-

11. The structure setfforthl in claim1l0,zand" a chamber below said chambers and "illuminating means therein,- said panels having apertures therethroughy in alinement `with said means, said apertures being backed by a trans'- parent colored material. i

12.1A lamp or signal device comprising a hollow standard having four sides, 4a lamp in said standard, a plate in the side of said standardhaving characters cut therefrom, a sheet of brightly colored material appearing illuminated through said characters when said lamp is lighted and a sheet of material of a`v different and dull color appearing through said characters when said lamp is not lighted.

13. A lamp or signal device comprising a hollow standard having four sides, a lamp in said standard, a plate in the side of said standard having characters cut therefrom', a sheet of material permeable to light at the inner side ofv saidplate having a ground glass surface'there-on adjacent said plate, and a sheet of colored transparent material at the inner side ofV said latter sheet whereby when said lamp is not lighted the ground` glass surface will show through said characters but when the lamp is lighted the colored sheet of material will be illuminated and showT through said characters.

14; A lamp or signal devicecomprisingf therethrough and having an. opening" at its'.

bottom, said flexible meanspassing through.y said last mentioned opening, said openingsand passage permitting entrance andcircus lation of' air through said standard caused by'thelheat of said lamps. v

l5. A signal device comprising a thereof having a convex lower surface and having anaperture extending therethrough; supporting means for said member, a flexible cable passing through'said aperture and secured to said memberand extending'down-y wardlytherefrom, a resilient means connected to the lower end of said cable for maintaining said standard in vertical. posi`` tion whenl swung down and, restoring.; it -to vertical position; 'and electrical conductorsA` enclosed vinsaid cable f and' passing into said member and standard.

V1'6. The structure set forth in claim= l5,- a

plate through whichfsaid cable extends,-` and a plurality ofA radiallyl disposed springsl-connected to said plateand havingtheir out'er ends fixed, said springs tending-itohold said plate' in centrali position; '1T Theastructure set Simard; a supporting member securede to the bottom fortlil in claim: 15,.

said resilient means comprising a series-of vertically disposed springs, a pair of substantially horizontal spaced plates between which said springs extend and towhich theyy are connected, meanslconnectingthe v'upper plate to said cable, and means for anchoring the lower plate in stationary position.

18. A lamp Aor signal device comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be set in the ground, a Y plurality `of circumferentially spaced brackets secured to the inner wall of said casing, said braclrets having inwardlyA projecting ribs thereon provided with con-y vex surfaces, a standard carrying a member at its lower end having` a spherical surfacey Y standard having a supporting member at its lower end adapted to bemoved in various directions with a chamber therein commu-V nicating with said chambers, said member having a passage leading from the chamber therein through its bottom, a flexible cable having conductors therein passing through said passage to said lamps, said opening and chambers also permitting a circulation of air upward through said standard caused by the heat of said lamps and means connected to said cable for maintaining said standardfnormallyin vertical position and restoring the same to vertical position when swung down. f 21. A lamp or signal device comprising a standard, a substantially spherical ball atthe bottom thereof, supporting means s for said ball at the underside thereof,l and a cover plate surrounding said ball having means contacting the same, and means for holding said cover platein 'various positions.

22. A lamp or signal device comprising avv standard, a universally oscillatable means at the bottom thereof, supporting means for said oscillatable means, a casing set into the ground below said oscillatable means carrying Y vsaid supporting means, means in -said casing for'holding said oscillatable means incontact with said supporting'means with said standard erect, an annular cover plateYY surrounding .said oscillatable means, an annular gasket on said plate contacting said. oscillatable means, and means permitting-` movement of said plate and holdingit in various positions.-

23. A lamp or signal device'comprising a standard, a substantially spherical hollow ball at the bottom thereof, said ballY having an opening at its underside, supporting meansA for said ballV at the underside thereof, a

'flexible means passing into said opening,

means disposedin said ball secured tosaid flexible means and-engaging said ball for connecting the same and said flexiblev means,

and resilient means connectedto said flexible means for holding said ball on said supporting means'with said` standard in vertical position.

24. A lamp or signal bination, a hollow post, electricaly lamps therein, a swivelling member at-the bottom of-said post adapted to oscillate Vwith said post in various circumferential planes, supporting means for said member, a lcable secured to the bottom of said member, anchored resilient means secured to said cable holding said member toits support in upright position, and conductors forsaid lamps passing Athrough said cable-and member intosaid post.

25. A lamp or signal device comprising a standard, a substantially spherical ball. at

the bottom thereof, supportingkmeans for said ball at the underside thereof,'a flex-4 ible cable secured to and extending from the p bottom of said ball, resilientA meanssecured at the lower end of said cable for helding said ball on said supporting means with said I standard iii-vertical position, acomparatively thin member surrounding said cabler betweenV said resilient means `and Vball through which said cable freely movable,

and a plurality of radially disposed resilient means secured to said member and extending therefrom and fixedly secured at their outer ends.'

p 26. A signal device having in combination, a hollow standard, aI memberhaving a lower convex surface at the bottom of said standard and having a central opening throughr said surface, a plurality of circumferentially spaced supportingmeans for said member,

a flexible cable secured to said member Vand extending downwardly through said 'opendevice having in coming, resilient means connected tosaid cable adapted to maintain said standard invertical position and restore the same tofvertical position vwhen swung` downwardly, electrically controlled signal devicesin said standard and electrical conductors passing through consaid cable and into saidfstandard for trolling said-signal devices. y

27. A street intersectionsignal device hav-y ing invcombination, a narrow post substantially square. 1n cross section with substan-l tially' straight vertically extending corners,

signal characters carried by. said post andv arranged in vertical rows, said post having openings inthe sides thereof through .which said characters are visible, a supporting member at` the base of said Vstan'dardhaving af lower convex, surface with a-central opening therethrough, means supporting said member and having a convexsurface engaging said convex surface, a flexible cable secured to said supporting member, resilient means connected to said cable to maintain said standard in vertical position and restore it to vertical position, and electrical conductors conerollingsaid signal characters passing through said cable and into said supporting member and standard.

28. A signal device adapted to be disposed at the intersection of two thoroughfares comprising a normally vertically extending hollow standard of substantiallyv uniform transverse dimensions from top to bottom and of a width sufficiently small so that the standard can be disposed between adjacent street car tracks spaced to give standard clearance between oppositely moving cars without interference with said cars, said standard presenting sides facing in four directions so as to respectively face said thoroughfares with alternate sides disposed directly opposite one another, means for simultaneously illuminating and displaying indicia at two opposite sides of said standard to direct the restraint of trac on one of said thoroughfares and for simultaneously illuminating and displaying indicia at the other two sides of said standard to direct the passage of traffic on the other of said thoroughfares and vice versa, supporting means at the base of said standard, supporting elements cooperating with said supporting means and arranged to permit it to move in any direction and meansto normally hold said standard in vertical position while permitting it to be depressed substantially in Contact with the street when said standard is contacted by a vehicle and to restore it to vertical position after being depressed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. Y

FRANK W. GRSVVOLD. 

